Carrier Books

i had to watch the film for this in elementary school once or twice, so when i read it i have the voice of the narrator in my head. but, as all of the other reviews have said (making this repetitive and somewhat unnecessary) it is a classic children's book. it encapsulates the tension between Quebec and Ontario, that still exists today, but not as much i think. I'm not at all into hockey myself, but am around hockey players so have been exposed to it in some form or another all my life, which might be why i relate to it. but hockey player or not pretty much anyone can relate as its about a kid not getting what he wants and having to cope. and if you don't read it, at least go watch the short film, which is debatably better (or that might just be my preference as i saw the film first).

The story started out great. A little boy who wanted to be like his Hockey idol. He had always worn the same jersey for years, but this year his Mom bought him a jersey from a different team. He was not happy. But he wears the jersey anyway. The ending is what was weird. It was like it was missing some pages or something. It just didn't end well in my opinion.

The Hockey Sweater is a book that I grew up loving and when I entered Teacher's College (Primary) I made it priority to have it in my library. I have found the book is excellent to read to students of all ages. The religious connotation is not a problem for public schools as long as a pre-intro is given to tell children that the Quebe education system was for the majority made up of Catholic schools.
Living in a different country where ice hockey is not well known it has been a perfect book to describe hockey, which I get a lot of questions about. For the older students I have used it too describe the hidden cultural tension that exists behind the sport. I.E. the french and english rivalary and then expanded this to incorporate how rugby for example is similar when we look at New Zealand...North and South Island or even in a larger context....New Zealand versus Australia.

what i thought would be a great book for my 2 hockey players ( ages 6 + 9), we were all dissapointed in the ending. the story builds as the boy is the only one with a different sweater from everyone else. Instead of something great happening to him, it ends with him in church praying that moths eat the sweater. period , thats the end. not very inspirational for your kids. want a great hockey book? get "The Magical Hockey Stick" its great!

The Hockey Sweater is such a nice little childrens book that can melt the heart of any hockey fan no matter how old. The book is great for young people, the illustrations are adorable and there is some hockey history laid in the book as well. It is a nice look back on a semi-forgotten time and it is nice to introduce old-school hockey to the youngsters. I am going to read this book to my nephew once he is old enough and if that is not recommendation enough to get your hands on this book yourself, then I am lost for words.

Fr. Greeley sure can write a mean dectective story. This one is loaded with his trademark Irish, Chicago, Notre Dame and Catholic references. It moves quickly and keeps you guessing for just long enough. It is like a sip of the Cardinal's whiskey....smooth and full of Irish flavour.

Andrew Greeley is back with Bishop Blackie Ryan and his adventures.
Part detective novel, part romance, and part Catholic religion, Bishop Blackie is always one step ahead of the reader, and usually a half-step behind the criminal mind. Truly delightful reads.

I served on a Nimitz class carrier, so some of this was so familiar, but a few items seemed out of place. I found it brought back many memories, and some long buried feelings. Father Greeley did a wonderful job conveying the feel of the ship, sprinkled with many of the terms I remember so well. I even visited the captain's in-port cabin a few times for various reasons, and I was so envious. I lived in a compartment with 30 other guys. This was before women on ships, and I think it would be hard to separate them the way he portrayed. I know the one ship I was on this was not possible. At any rate, this book has me hooked to try another Blackie Ryan novel!

Greeley's Bishop Blackwood Ryan is famous for solving locked room mysteries. In Bishop at Sea the room is not only locked, it is guarded by two Marines and is on the USS Langley, an aircraft carrier at sea. Blackie solves the puzzle while the reader is treated to a very suspenseful time.
Blackie comes to the ship assigned by his boss the Cardinal to conduct the sacrament of Confirmation, while solving the strange disappearance of crew members. The Captain of the Langley is Dave Cronin, the Cardinal's nephew, whose career may be ruined by the scandal on his ship.
Greeley's talent for description shines in this book. Although I have never been on a aircraft carrier, I now feel that I have. I can picture the cramped quarters, the maze of corridors that make one lost, and I hope to avoid landing on a carrier since it is "nothing more than a controlled crash". Blackie's humor is delightful, for example: the sailor "saluted like he was a Swiss Guard and I the Pope (at least)"; and "Congress would choke on their gin martinis".
Bishop at Sea is beautifully written story with charming characters, and an intriguing plot. I recommend it for a rainy day escape.

This was my second Blackie Ryan book and I found that I enjoyed it far more than the first which was The Bishop and the missing L Train. This one kept me on the each of seat and page turning, trying to guess what had happened, along with all the other enjoyable characters kept me going untill the final page. A first rate book and a new author to read had me doing handstands for joy.

This is THE most detailed and informative historical narrative of the surface action on Guadalcanal, Nov.13-15, 1942. From detailed tactical maps to personal accounts of the actions and heroism of both sides of the conflict, Eric Hammel truly puts the reader on the battle bridge, behind the turrent guns, in the cockpit, and treading shark infested waters. You won't be able to put this book down.

Many books have covered the WWII struggle for Guadalcanal, and with good reason. The campaign marked the Allies' shift from defense to offense in the Pacific theater.

Though the US Navy had turned back a grave threat by sinking four Japanese carriers at Midway in June, 1942, the Americans remained on the defensive in the Pacific until the enemy began building an airstrip on an obscure island in the Solomon chain. This "unsinkable aircraft carrier" threatened to cut off re-supply of Australia.

This peril compelled the US to act. On August 7, 1942, American forces landed on Guadalcanal and took the new airstrip, which they dubbed Henderson Field. The landing was easy, but the fight for control of the island proved to be anything but. Each side, realizing the stakes and refusing to fold, alternately raised the ante.

Gaining control of the island depended on reinforcement and re-supply by sea, so control of the surrounding waters was crucial. Those waters were the scene of many naval clashes, but Hammel concentrates on the three-day span which turned the tide and doomed Japan's effort to recapture Guadalcanal.

That span included the hellish melee of Friday the 13th, in which a Japanese bombardment and resupply force and a pick-up flotilla of US cruisers and destroyers nearly collide in the dark; the daytime defense of the island by the Henderson-based "Cactus Air Force" and fliers from the carrier Enterprise against warships and transports; and the climactic clash of battleships off Savo Island.

These events have been described in many histories but often misunderstood. The surface battles were fought in the dark, among multiple ships operating almost independently. Many ships, and more commanders, were lost. Misidentification of friend and foe occurred from the start, and much confusion has survived to this day.

Hammel's great contribution is his orderly depiction of chaos. While it is both horrifying and thrilling to consider the spectacle of dozens of warships blazing away at one another at point-blank range, it's impossible to understand. Through both review of records and interviews with dwindling survivors, Hammel has put together a time-line. He lets us see what happened to each ship in turn, dividing the free-for-all into fairly comprehensible bites.

The US Navy's achievement here was heroic, and the principals have been lionized. But Hammel does not shrink from showing the heroes' weaknesses. US commanders' failure--and its tragic results--to understand their ships' new technology is depicted frankly. The Americans could have overcome the Japanese' superior night-vision capability by putting ships with the best radar in the lead. But commanders squandered a potential advantage by disposing their ships without regard to radar.

If Hammel has a weakness, it's the characters. Many men figure in the story; we learn what they do, but not who they are. They character who leaves the strongest imprint is US Admiral William F. Halsey, whose aggressive fighting spirit set the tone for the US offensive.

This quibble and the occasional awkward turn of phrase are amply compensated by Hammel's organizational and descriptive skills. He includes a helpful glossary and an array of maps up front, adds a description of participating ships in an appendix, and a good complement of photos in between.

Hammel matter-of-factly describes the deaths of many seamen: blown to bits, drowned, burned, scalded, concussed, torn by shrapnel, run down by ships, shredded by propellers, convulsed by depth charges, machine-gunned in the water, eaten by sharks. Despite the dispassionate tone, the sacrifices of our fighting men assume a cumulative, awesome power. Hammel indulges our senses; his painterly descriptions of the equatorial heat, the conical shadow of Savo, and the sickly-sweet smell of tropical plants linger in the memory as long as images of the horrors of war.

Guadalcanal was a contest of wills. After November 15, The Japanese retained the will to fight, but not to win. The Americans went on the attack and never looked back. The turning point deserves a close examination; this book does it justice.

This is the first book that I have ever read by Eric Hammel. Originally I had checked it out from my local library, but it was so outstanding and difficult to put down, that I purchased this book just to have my own copy. I want to read this book again and again. In fact this book has led me to purchase the Guadalcanal triology authored by Mr. Hammel. All books are now in my possession and a reading adventure that I will enjoy for years to come. Mr. Hammel's writing style and the amount of detail he includes will keep you on the edge of your reading chair late into the night.

Hammel does an absolutely amazing job of depicting the surface battles, better than any I've read anywhere before. Has a very intense, vivid writing style that makes the battle very clear to the reader. His descriptions of American destroyers pumping five-inch shell after five-inch shell into the crumbling bridgework of the battleship Hiei are really impressive stuff.

November 13, 1942 was the turning point of the Pacific war, yet few historians have written extensively about it. Previous writers have merely described that combat as a general melee in which it is impossible to reconstruct the tracts of individual ships. That may be true due to the loss of records, logs, and witnesses, but Hammel has done a credible job of reconstructing plausible positions for the various ships as the battle progressed.

Copyrighted in 1988, Hammel suggests in his Afterward that his reconstructions may be controversial. For example many writers agree that friendly fire from the US cruiser San Francisco hit the US cruiser Atlanta; Hammel is the first that I know of that says unequivocally that Atlanta was actually targeted. Other writers have said that Atlanta drifted into the line of fire. Interestingly enough, subsequent writers have reached the same conclusion as Hammel, or perhaps they have merely accepted Hammel's conclusion.

Most of this book concerns itself with the battle of the night of Nov 13-14. There is also material on the battles of the next two nights that assured the result.

Although this is an excellent book, I penalize it one star because it has only a single track-diagram of the first battle and there is no chronology. I especially miss the latter, because it appears that Hammel actually created a credible chronology yet did not share it. One hopes for a future release of that information.

The book I read was from the library, but I will probably buy a copy for myself.

Excellent reading - a very comprehensive presentation of Native American concepts of spirituality and all things sacred

This is an excellent book. For anyone interested in Native American society, religion, etc... Great book and very well written.

Walking in the Sacred Manner by Mark St.Pierre and Tilda Long Soldier

I originally picked up this book because I thought it would have information on Native American herbal healing. If I had bothered to read the back of the book, I would have known this was not the case, but hey, I was in the middle of Holliday shopping.

What the book did turn out to be is a collection of Lakota legend and beliefs. It is filled with many first hand accounts of Medicine Women and witnesses who had been present at ceremonies. This is definitely not a how to book. What it is, is a good overall view of the history and culture of the Oceti Sagowin (Lakota, Dakota and Nakota peoples, collectively known as the Sioux by the whites) and other Northern Plains tribes.

I found this to be a well put together narrative of interviews and history. Tilda Long Soldier was raised on Pine Ridge Reservation and grew up with the traditions of her people. Mark StPierre has spent 20 years among the Lakota and is a professor of sociology, anthropology and creative writing. All these things show through in this book. I think this book would make an ideal text for an anthropology or sociology student wanting to learn more of the culture.

There is a lot in this book I have yet to absorb. Aside from insights into the culture the one thing that I came away with is that these women were just that, women. They still lived their lives, raised their family and carried on a normal life. The things that they worked with were sacred, but they were not. They were simply women, doing the job that the spirits had asked of them. I am glad to have had this glimpse into a way of life now almost gone.

This book only contains brief biographies from five winan pejuta (medicine women), but does not teach the spiritual beliefs of these medicine women.

If you want to read about some of the abilities of medicine and holy people this would be a fairly good place to start.

If you want to understand the spiritual beliefs, and possibly work toward becoming a medicine or holy person; look elsewhere.

My Indian, and Shamanism listmania lists can help you in that search for spiritual beliefs of the American Indians.

I encourage questions and comments about reviews; Two Bears

Wah doh Ogedoda (We give thanks Great Spirit)

Walking in the Sacred Manner by Mark St.Pierre and Tilda Long Soldier

I originally picked up this book because I thought it would have information on Native American herbal healing. If I had bothered to read the back of the book, I would have known this was not the case, but hey, I was in the middle of Holliday shopping.

What the book did turn out to be is a collection of Lakota legend and beliefs. It is filled with many first hand accounts of Medicine Women and witnesses who had been present at ceremonies. This is definitely NOT a how-to book. What it is, is a good overall view of the history and culture of the Oceti Sagowin (Lakota, Dakota and Nakota peoples, collectively known as the Sioux by the whites) and other Northern Plains tribes.

I found this to be a well put together narrative of interviews and history. Tilda Long Soldier was raised on Pine Ridge Reservation and grew up with the traditions of her people. Mark StPierre has spent 20 years among the Lakota and is a professor of sociology, anthropology and creative writing. All these things show through in this book. I think this book would make an ideal text for an anthropology or sociology student wanting to learn more of the culture.

There is a lot in this book I have yet to absorb. Aside from insights into the culture the one thing that I came away with is that these women were just that, women. They still lived their lives, raised their family and carried on a normal life. The things that they worked with were sacred, but they were not. They were simply women, doing the job that the spirits had asked of them. I am glad to have had this glimpse into a way of life now almost gone.

I've been using a sling to carry my babies since my now-five-year-old daughter was born, but I'm still rather inept at it, having experience with only one or two carries. Thus, when I came across Babywearing, by Maria Blois, M.D., my curiosity was piqued. I was not disappointed. Babywearing is a fairly easy read, and yet it is so full of information that I know I will refer to it again and again. Dr. Blois answered all of my major questions, and more.

Every aspect of babywearing is covered, from the "why" to the "what" (Which carrier is best for me?) to the "how." Each is treated in sufficient detail to leave the reader feeling well-equipped, but not in so much detail as to overwhelm. Other resources are recommended, as well, for those who may desire to dig deeper. Scientific information and statistics are well-referenced.

The book begins with the benefits of babywearing. These benefits are varied, for both mother and baby. For mother, the benefits are largely practical - babywearing makes her life easier! For baby, the benefits are largely medical and psychological - baby is healthier and more content when carried often. This section also includes brief references to the history of babywearing, and the effect of our babywearing example on others around us.

This section is followed by two about babywearing in special circumstances. A variety of circumstances are addressed, including special needs of babies and special needs of mothers. Fostered/adopted babies, multiples, and disabled parents, for example, can all benefit from babywearing. Kangaroo care - the close, skin-to-skin contact with mama for the sake of health, especially for preemies - is given an entire section.

From this point forward, the book gets very "hands-on" practical. Dr. Blois (a babywearing mama, herself) suggests basic babywearing tips, offers general instructions for things like getting baby onto your back, and gives an overview of the types of carriers available. Then she really digs into the options. Each major type of carrier gets a full section. The author describes the carrier, tells us what its major features are, explains what styles are available within the category being discussed, and provides step-by-step instructions (with photos!) of how to wear them various ways. Each section also includes a comparison chart, which compares the features of the major carrier options within the category.

There are carriers here that I had never even seen! Slings/pouches are the first type of carrier to be described. These are worn over one shoulder and under the other arm, like a sash. Second are wraparounds - long pieces of fabric wrapped around the body and tied. One terrific feature of the wraparound section is that Dr. Blois tells you what lengths are needed for various wraparound styles, and offers instructions for making your own. Front/back packs are the third category. This includes the constructed carriers with which many modern parents are familiar, along with several simpler carriers of mostly Asian derivation. Finally, torso carriers are discussed. These carriers wrap around the parent's body, but do not go over the shoulders.

The book concludes with frequently-asked questions about babywearing, such as, "which carrier should I try first?" and, "will I spoil my baby if I wear him?" The appendix lists quite a few resources, including sources for carrier patterns and parts, and children's books that incorporate babywearing.

The only thing I found disappointing about the book was that the many photographs did not designate which carriers they depicted (by brand name). I frequently found myself thinking, "I like that carrier; I wonder what it is," and it was often not obvious, even when compared with the charts.

Nevertheless, this was such a great overview, thoroughly addressing all aspects of babywearing without overwhelming, that it would make a terrific shower gift. The style is unassuming and encouraging, with very much a "one mother to another" feel. Common doubts are acknowledged and calmed, not belittled or ignored. I finished the book feeling much more confident about my ability to do this.

I got this book because I am new to babywearing and there are countless suggestions, websites, and insights from other parents on which carriers work well.

Well worth the money!

I will admit that I did not read this entire book, but the part that I did read (which made me promptly put down the book) was the part about how you can even ride a horse while wearing your baby in a sling. I have a horse and I've been riding since I'm a little girl and that has to be the dumbest and most dangerous idea I have ever heard!!! That section of the book made me question the authors judgement and I certainly didn't want to hear what else she had to say.

What a wonderful resource for parents wanting to bond with their children. I am a mother of 7 and an advocate of babywearing/breastfeeding and this book is a must-have for any new or prospective parent. Great baby shower idea: give this book and a gift certificate for their choice of baby carrier...they'll thank you from the bottom of their hearts!

The book opens with a brief biography of the author, and her into medical school and to babywearing. Then the book is organized into every style of cloth carrier, where to buy, how to make, what to use and of course- detailed directions to using them (with pics!) (With instructions for adapting carries for newborns to 2-3 year olds!)

I strongly reccommend this book for all new mums, dads, nannies, grandparents- EVERYONE who will be caring for a little one.

This witty, funny and observant memoir of one of the few black commercial divers and his exploits in Southeast Asia and elsewhere keeps the reader asking for more. It is a highly informative book with a great deal of funny, humorous and tragic anecdotes about diving and life in all parts of the world. From explaining the pain of `the bends' to regaling the readers with a story about the lack of Western-style toilets in Singapore (i.e. toilets one sits on).

Tony Wells was born in Michigan but he rarely stayed put for long. Moving from there to a small town to Hawaii and then to Oceanside, California. Wells stood out wherever he went and never seemed to want the easy normal life. So he enrolled in courses on diving and got himself trained as a commercial diver, working first San Diego and relocating overseas. Throughout he gives the reader a blunt telling of the racial issues he faced, or the ones he didn't face, as a black man choosing a profession which few black men had chosen previously and few do today. Readers should ignore the offbeat title of the memoirs, for the gems of information and story telling within are first class. Commercial diving is serious work and not for the faint of heart.

Wells worked on oil rigs in Singapore and the UAE. He also was in the Philippines, India. Throughout there are observations of the local cultures, the local women, and other details, including dives, injuries and beggars. Each vignette is complete some near-death experiences and other shocking problems. The stories of searching for smugglers gold, the wreck of the Flor Do Mar and a downed helicopter (with bodies inside) are fascinating. There are also stories of being arrested. In the end however, after the stories of wild sex and other escapades, this is a story of hope by a proud black American who encourages his brothers to never let people tell you that you can't do something, to never let set backs get you down. An inspiring and well written memoir.

Seth J. Frantzman

I found Blackman Under the Deep Blue Sea written by an ordinary Black American, who done it his way, a little Hair-Raising, Enlightning, Humerous, & Inspiring, giving hope to others who are plain ordinary individuals who are hesitany to carry out their ambitions.
Charles W. McVay

Black Man Under The Deep Blue Sea by Tony Wells is probably best classified as a journal of Wells' experiences as a commercial diver. What makes the story unusual is that there are very, very few blacks in this particular line of work. In here, you read about his childhood and adolescence, along with the move to Hawaii that first brought him face-to-face with the possibility of learning to dive. After becoming SCUBA-certified (despite not initially being able to pass the swimming test), he enrolled in a commercial diving school to learn how to work underwater. This certification eventually led him all over the world as an independent diver, hooking on with companies when they had diving jobs available. As a black diver, he shares how his color rarely came into play when it came to getting jobs. Basically, success talks and reputations are quickly gained (or lost) in the industry. Because he knew his job well and performed at a high standard, he had little trouble in finding work when there were open jobs. At the end of the book, he talks about how color and race should never be a barrier to going after your dreams. Of course, he can hold himself out as a prime example of that.

As a self-published title, you shouldn't expect that Black Man will be a slick, highly polished story. Tony tells his story as if he was sitting across from you, complete with humor, danger, pain, and anger. But actually, that's what makes the book most compelling. Unless you're a diver interested in the technical details of the job (and he provides those in great measure), you probably wouldn't be inclined to pick up the book and give it a read. But shortly after starting to read, you'll feel as if you're sitting across the table from a new friend, sharing a beer and being regaled with stories and experiences that are fascinating.

If you have the chance to read Black Man Under The Deep Blue Sea, it'd be worth your time. At the very least, it'll give you a greater appreciation for those who work underwater to keep the oil flowing through the pipelines and into your lives.

Growing up in Hamtramck, Michigan, Tony Wells couldn't possibly have imagined that he'd someday be a commercial diver who worked all over the world. In fact, when he moved to Hawaii when he was fourteen, he didn't even know how to swim. Interested in learning dive, he taught himself how to swim and then practiced until he could pass the swimming portion of the entrance exam. Then, the real work began.

I found Tony's story fascinating. Commercial diving is one of those jobs that seems so glamorous and filled with adventure. The truth is that it's dangerous and hard work. Still, through this occupation, Tony has traveled all over the world. He's worked in Singapore, Thailand, India, Malaysia, Egypt, and Pakistan. He's done everything from working on pipelines and doing underwater repair to photography and treasure hunting. No he's never come face to face with a shark but he's had a number of dangerous close calls.

..and yes, as you can guess from the title of the book, this is a first person autobiographical journey through the life of a brother who chose to live the life of a commercial deep sea diver, against his friend's rather "colorful" advice.

Written in informal language, with lots of photographs and explanations of technical jargon, this is an interesting read about the dangers and rewards of an unusual occupation that can only be chosen by those brave souls who don't mind physical exertion, long and lonely decompression routines, perilous situations and the total absence of a family life.

Although the diving information is the main part of the book, the author adds his own philosophies, opinions and thoughts, some of which are more suitable to a blog than a book, and parts of which need some editing for continuity.

I liked most of the book, but sometimes the author comes off, perhaps unintentionally, as a know-it-all, and I found this off-putting, particularly in the final pages. Overall however, the author has a positive message for young people to pursue their dreams regardless of skin color, religion or nationality, and I'll give him points for that.

If you like watching National Geographic on television or have an interest in this tough-guy occupation, this would be a good choice.


Amanda Richards, March 9, 2008

This is an excellent book that offers many fascinating details of the carrier operations early in the war in the Pacific.
As an old sailor who was in WWII, although later than this action, I can appreciate the accuracy.
Feel what it was like to sit in the cockpit of an F4F, or SBD, or TBF as you engage the enemy. (I did fly in the TBF/TBD's, then SB2C/s)
Well done.....

Despite the book's title this is really a history of the Solomons campaing up to the battle of the Eastern Solomons, the first carrier to carrier clash of the campaign. It certainly has its center of gravity placed on the operations of the American carriers, but includes much of the actions of both navies in and around the slot, the fighting on the ground, and the aerial duels between the Japanese coming out of Rabaul and the Cactus air force.

Foremost this book is an account of what happened in a very comperehensive manner. After explaining the aircraft and ships the Japanese and Americans possesed, and delving into an interesting comparison of their air wing make ups and tactics, the author takes you chronologically through the Solomons campaign.

The reason this book only merited four stars instead of five is that sometimes this can be a bit dry. There's a lot of " . . . and then at 1350 the Wasp launched two more Hellcats on CAP. At 1415 a Mavis was shot down by a Hellcat from the Enterprise. Japanese records indicate that this was from their base in the Shortland Islands. At 1430 four planes from the Hornet CAP returned to refuel. At 1435 planes from the Wasp sighted another Mavis but were unable to pursue it. At 1440 . . . " Stretch this amount of minute by minute detail out over several weeks worth of operations and you get a sense of what the book is about, and it's a marvel it's not longer.

This might be slow at some points but it does allow some interesting insights that many other more easily read, and more exciting books can obscure. First is the sometimes monotomy and boredom of war. Second is the ridiculous degree to which kills of enemy aircraft and ships were overstated during the battles that occured. By comparing accounts of both sides the author makes it clear that most engagements resulted in fewer losses than the participants thought took place. (Clearly the engagements must have been emotionally draining and fierce.) If the after action reports are to have been believed it would seem as though the Japanese thought they wiped out the entire American force several times over and vice versa.

Certainly interesting for people with a passion for WWII history, especially the pacific campaign, but too much like pure history to really recommend for the casual reader.

Eric Hammel does a good job narrating the events during the Battle of Eastern Solomons in August, 1942. This was a critical battle which allowed the First Marine Division defenders on Guadalcanal to continue to consolidate its position. The blow by blow narrative of the air battle is so detailed that one wonders how Mr. Hammel was able to gather all this information--particularly that which he gleans from the Japanese side.

The weakness of Mr. Hammel in this book is his seeming inability to cope with the historically improved view of the performance of Vice Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher. Mr. Hammel seems to parrot the biased view first propounded by the likes of Rear Admiral Richmond Kelly Turner, who had a desparate need to blame the disaster of the Battle of Savo Island on someone--anyone--other than himself. Unfortunately, Admiral King and Samuel Elliot Morrison picked up on Turner's scapegoating. Mr. Hammel seems to write as if none of the exculpatory research in such works as Lundstrom's "Black Shoe Carrier Admiral" has been circulated in the historical community. Admiral Fletcher certainly was concerned with refueling his ships...particularly his destroyer screen...as he well should have. Logistics of refueling had not developed to the art it became by the end of the war. Admiral Fletcher correctly kept his eye on the most important of his objectives...to destroy Japanese carriers under Admiral Nimitz's orders of calculated risk so that he could preserve the U.S. carriers, which in the Pacific were the most strategic of wartime assets for the defense of the United States. Fletcher wasn't flambouyant or reckless like Admiral Halsey, but was very approachable unlike Admiral Spruance. His approachability and good judgement explains Admiral Fletcher's magnificent performance--as well as the superb performance of the Yorktown--at Coral Sea and Midway. Mr. Hammel would do well to edit out his bias in future editions.

Finally, Mr. Hammel could put better perspective on what was achieved by this little known battle. A major effort which included extensive elements of the Combined Fleet were turned back, as this was a rather massive counterassault on the Marine position at Guadalcanal. That in itself was a considerable achievement only overshadowed by the Coral Sea and Midway engagements. The Marines owe a considerable debt of gratitude to the Navy for keeping their position viable...and the Leathernecks should also be reminded that more sailors died in the Guadalcanal campaign than Marines.

CARRIER CLASH is the first of a two book set detailing the campaign in the Solomons from Aug-Oct 1942. The reader is familiarized with aircraft carrier doctrine, operations, and the aircraft types used by both combatants. The book takes the reader through the opening operation (the initial landings on Guadalcanal)right through to the Battle of the Eastern Solomons in late August. As in the second volume CARRIER STRIKE, this book follows an almost minute-by-minute account of the tension and confusion of aerial combat.The reader is thrust into the midst of the action. I was hardly able to put the book down.

The Invasion of Guadalcanal and the Battle of the Eastern Solomons, August 1942.

The Battle of the Eastern Solomons was history's third carrier clash. A collision of U.S. Navy and Imperial Navy carriers in the wake of the invasion of Guadalcanal--whose airfield the United States desperately needed and the Japanese desperately wanted back--the battle was waged at sea and over Guadalcanal's besieged Marine-held Lunga Perimeter on August 24, 1942.

These battles were the result of the US deciding to draw the line in the pacific at the Solomons. If the Japanese had been able to complete the airfield on Guadalcanal, their planes would have been able to prevent the sailing of ships to Australia via the Pacific. So it was here that the Americans drew the line. Before the Guadalcanal battle the Americans fought the Battle of the Coral Sea stopping the Japanese southern advance.

Remember that this was a time before the Americans brought out their newer aircraft. This battle was fought with Wildcats against Zeros. And the dive bombers were the old SBD Dauntless.

This is not a history of Guadalcanal or of the overall place of this battle in the war, it is as the title says, a description of the carrier vs. carrier battles. This is only part of the story, but it is well told here.

Not a companion book, but anyone interested in the stopping of the Japanese advances should also read the new Australian book "A Bastard of a Place." This covers the stopping of the Japanese advance across Papua New Guina a fierce and deciscive battle little known in the US.

This book is about Henry who wants to get a job delivering papers. A funny part of the book is when is goes to apply for the paper route. On the way, he stops at a rummage sale where there is a box with four kittens for sale for 5 cents each. He buys them all and tries to hide them in his shirt when he applies for the paper route. When he knocks on the door of the man who hires people for the job, a dog is at the door. The dog growls at Henry and one of the kittens pops out of his shirt. He pushes the kitten down, and it scratches him. The whole thing is a fiasco and he is told to come back in a year or two when he is older. It you want to know more about other funny things that happen to Henry or if he gets the paper route, I recommend you read this book.

This was the first Henry book I read, so it got me into the rest of them. Imagine a ten-year-old boy trying to look like a grown-up while a kitten pokes its head out of his jacket. This book is a delightful voyage into the lives of kids and animals in America.

As with the previous books, Henry and the Paper Route is written in chapter book style where each chapter is almost a short story in-and-of-itself and which all wind their way toward the ultimate goal (each book Henry has that ONE thing he's got to get or do) which makes for interesting reading, wondering how each part will ultimately work out with the end goal. It's clear from the title that this volume in the Henry Huggins series is all about Henry and his desire to get a paper route all his own and as the chapters go on, we see how he goes about proving he's ready to do that! With this book we also get to read more about Beezus and Ramona, Scooter, Ribsy and more!

Henry and the Paper Route is six chapters of boyishly good adventure geared toward Henry obtaining the paper route of his dreams! We start out with Henry in hot water over bringing home four kittens...this chapter is all about him making an interesting first impression with Mr. Capper (the newspaper guy). The second chapter is about his tireless search to find good homes for those kittens. Chapter three Henry engineers a clever plan to help his class get ahead in the school paper drive and in chapter four we find out if his plan was successful or not! Chapter five Henry meets Murph, boy genius and finds that Murph has transferred into the paper route he's had his eye on! Oh, no...in chapter six will Henry finally get that route or is he destined to only fill in and help Scooter out? Your young reader will love finding out!

I give this book five stars...though the Henry Huggins series was written in the 1940's and 50's and have a bit of a Leave It to Beaver feel with regards to the traditional family roles and quaint feel of the daily life of the kids in them...they are also rather timeless. Putting aside the money issues (yea, everything cost WAY less in these books than they do today), Henry Huggins is a clean cut typical boy looking for a bit of fun...but he's also honest, hard working, and clever in thinking of ways to get what he wants (the advertising thing for the paper drive for example)...and he's always respectful even when he's trying to scheme to get what he wants! Henry and the Paper Route (and all the other books in this series) are well worth reading...these are kids classics for a reason, because they are timelessly entertaining!

I am 8 years old. I like all of the Beverly Cleary books. This book is funny. I especially liked the part when Ramona pinned a jump rope to her overalls and pretended she was a monkey. She went to the store with her family, and some people joked around and thought she was a new species for sale. Then she thought they were not joking and she ran away from the store. Ramona is four in this book, and she is my favorite character in the Beverly Cleary books.

Henry Huggins is part of the world of Ramona and Beezus Quimby, a pair of sisters who have launched a dozen or so books by Beverly Cleary.

In this outing, Henry is fixated on becoming a paperboy, but Mr. Capper won't hire him because he's only ten, and you need to be eleven to deliver papers. Henry tries scheme after scheme, but nothing works, and then matters go from bad to worse when a boy genius moves into the neighborhood and picks up the route that Henry wanted. Henry is confounded by this development, but finds that he is better than the genius at one thing: dealing with Ramona, who is determined to sabotage the route at any cost.

Since Henry Huggins first rode his bicycle onto the scene fifty years ago, the world has moved on, making his aw-shucks manner and quaint problems seem antiquated and distant from your savvy modern pre-teen.

That being said, the stories are still amusing for young readers, and some of the elements, such as dealing with young pests, are universal. If you like other books by Beverly Cleary, this one will go down nicely, and if you're a boy thinking of giving Cleary a try, you might feel more comfortable starting with this one, which features a boy protagonist (although I think all of the books appeal to both genders).

Will's War represents the lenghts our govenment will go to, to silence those who don't agree with them (like our current administration), and how they bend the laws to get what they want. History repeats itself. Will the subject of this tome was framed by the government because like most German's of the WWI era they were against consription (the draft), he was also involved in both Farmers and Labor unions, two more reasons why the government went after him.

Ms. Windle opens up her grandfather's struggles and the struggles of the German people who were subjected too the governments Mischarges of Justice. The courtroom drama was outstanding and fans of Perry Mason Mysteries will enjoy it. Although Paul Drake becomes Will's sister who is instrumental in turning the government's case around.

Kudos and Bravo Ms. Windle

Ms. Windle and I share the same surname "Windle" and we are probably related but the relationship link occurs over in Germany in the 1600's. My great, great, great, grandfather (John A Windle) did settle in Texas when it was a Republic in 1837 in Rusk Co. TX, but he was born in Virginia in 1804 and lived in AL and TN before finally settling in Texas long before WWI.

Mrs. Windle has written another fascinating, engrossing work. She seems to write, not only from excellent research, but from diligent research. Her descriptions of the occasions help us relive the history of her story as they keep us in touch with the characters and what they must have felt and the way they likely have behaved in this terrible time of our history.

For those of us who loved "Hill Country" and "True Women", Woods doesn't disappoint. Here is more of the story of her family, and the evolution of life in Texas. The characters, based on her ancestors, are real, and carry us through what was a very difficult time - a time of persecution of those who had the courage to risk life and limb to find a home in our promised land - and who, for the most part, were loyal, patriotic citizens. Again, we are aware of the resiliency and courage of those pioneer spirits who created the Texas of today. This is a great read, particulaly if you are interested in the human side of Texas history - warts and all.

If you think you've read the quintessential courtroom novel, or learned more than you can possibly learn bout contemporary history, think again. this book has it all. Janice Woods /windle has an uncanny knack for making real people come to life on a page and they soon feel like old friends or family members. Here's a book that tells you things about Texas you never knew, gives you an entirely different slant on how this country handled the era around WWI, and shows you with almost painful clarity how people's passions and prejudices shape history and lives.

From the first page where you meet Will Bergfeld until the conclusion of an emotional trial, this is a book you can't put down. As much as this book resembles True Women and Hill Country in creating a mood and drawing the history of Texas, it is again totally different, and could just as easily have taken place today. For those who think racial profiling is a new facet of our lives, think again. Pick up this book and you won;t be able to put it down until you've read the last word.

I learned so much by reading this third book of Janice Woods Windle. I was amazed at the intolerance and fear that Americans, Texans in particular, had of their fellow citizens who were of German extract during WWI. What a phenomena fear is! And war brings out the worst of fears, even today. To read of Will, Janice's ancestor and his trial related to supposed treason against the U. S. is an amazing read, as it is based on the truth of the trial of Woods Windle's kin.

I was also fascinated by Will's involvement with the labor movement in Colorado and the Wobblies, and how that branded his reputation, threatened his livelihood as a mailman and upright citizen who saw a need for change and put his life on the line.

I am a devout fan of Janice Woods Windle's three books. Actually "True Women" convinced me that she was a writer to watch. "Hill Country" was okay, but "Will's War" is right up there with "True Women." This is a must read in historical fiction of Texas, circa WWI and its surrounding years.

Highly recommend!

I really enjoyed reading this detailed account of aviation mishaps. As a former pilot, I am fascinated with the causes of aircraft accidents. It is amazing how even the most experienced pilots can make fatal mistakes. This book on aircraft mishaps gives a very detailed account of each accident and the investigation. The pictures and graphics let you see how the accident happened and how it sometimes could have been avoided. If you like CSI, you would love this book.

It is very hard to get an interesting book about aircraft accidents without, at the same time, getting "yellow" in the analysis.

Clearly, the author tried to be serious but the final result is precisely what the title says: A lot of final reports...without further analysis. It should have been interesting having a more general analysis (similar to books by Perrow or Reason) instead of being satisfied with the analysis included in every report.

This is a great book, if you want to expand your knowledge on Air Accidents, being a novice or professional you will enjoy it.

Ane of my favorites book of this year.

A very interesting book providing a wealth of information on some well known aircraft accidents. I was especially interested in the commercial jet aircraft accident reports.

It was exactly what it stated it would be. Perfect Service. Thank you!!

Bree Whittle